Nut cap-lock



Oclt. 12, 1937. H. R'osENBERG 2,095,289

' y NUT CAP Locx Filed oct. 27, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 1 his Mouw/13 Oct. 12,1937. Rosi-:NBERG I 2,095,289

' NUT CAP LOCK 4 Filed ootfz'r, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 2 his 5mm/MMA Patented-oct.' -12, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NUT car-Loox leyman Rosenberg, New York, N. Y. Application October v27, 1934, Serial No. 750,371 y 6 claims. (Crim- 14) v This invention relates to improvements in apparatus designed to improve the appearance of v nuts and conceal protruding'bolt ends, and has the same has been applied to a bolt.

condition.

A further object is the provision of a bolt cover adapted to engage a protruding end of a bolt to hold the cover in such relation to a nut `as to afford the appearance of a nut and cover asl a continuous structure.

A still further object is the provision of simple and eiiicient resilient locking means to secure the cap readily and easily and yet effectively in place; andan additional object is the inexpensive provision of such locking means, and also the provision against accidental dislocation or loss of the locking means. v

With these and` other objects in view, as will in part hereinafter become apparent and in part be stated, the invention includes a cover or cap and means for mounting the same detachably in such relation to a nut as to cause the cap to appear to be continuous of portions of the nut while merely in contact therewith.

The invention still 'further includes in such a cap or cover means for detachably connecting the same to a bolt end projecting beyond a nut for seating the cap on'the nut.

The invention still further includes in such a cover structure resilient or elastic means for detachably engaging an exposed thread portion of a bolt. y

The invention still further comprises certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as subsequently specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Figure `1 vis a view partly in elevation and partly in central section through an assembled structure including an embodiment of the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view thereof, the bolt being omitted.

Figure 4 isa vertical cross section through the improved cap detached, the bolt engaging pron-gs being shown in full lines in their operative or ilnished position and in dotted lines in the position before the prongs are bent to the `inturned Figure 5 is an inverted plan of the cap detached.

Figure 6 is a transverse section therethrough taken on a plane at right angles to the plane of ably simulating that of a cap nut.

the section of Figure 4, that is ,on the plane indicated by line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a somewhat modied embodiment, the bolt andv nut f beingl shown in dotted line ,work material 2 and engaged by a nut 3 preferably of the hexagonal type of nut, but susceptib-le of being any popular form of nut, and with the bolt end portion extending beyond the nut. A cap or cover 4 engages the outer face of nut 3 and encloses the projecting end portion of bolt I in a manner to cause the nut 3 to have a fanciful or inished appearance,prefer To hold the cap 4 in place on the nut 3 and in engagement with` the bolt, the cap is provided with a prong or prongs 5. Each prong is preferably in the form of an integral tab o r projection, but the projection or tab may be otherwise made than integral with the cap 4, as hereinafter pointed out. Two prongs or clips 5 are preferably employed and arranged diametrically opposite each other, as best seen in Figure 5, but a greater or less Inumber maybe utilized as desired. Each prong 5 is resiliently elastic, that is it is aspring and is preferably formed integral with cap 4, as

, by Vbeing stamped thereon at the time of the `that they depend therefrom as seen in dotted lines in Figure 4 when the cap is in an upright position. They are then bent, preferably by an appropriate stamping operation, to a position extending inward within the cap so as to be loby the cap. When only one prong is employed, it

preferably outstands from the edge or `base of cated to engage the threadsof a bolt enclosed the cap within the cap with its under face flush with the base or edge of the cap so as to be adapted to engage the first thread spiral of the bolt rising out of the nut. When more than one prong is employed, the other prongs are preferably bent up suillciently -to agree with the rise of the thread. For instance, one prong 5 is seen in Figure 4 as outstanding horizontally while the other prong being diametrically opposite is bent up approximately-one-half the distance alongthe bolt occupied by a full thread helix. Thus, the straight outstanding prong will, as seen in Figure 1, engage beneath the first thread helix rising out of the nut 3, while the bent prong which upstands a little at its free end will engage in the thread groove above the thread groove into which the first prong extends. Thus, the second prong engages the thread spiral above that en- -gaged by the rst prong. Thus, the prongs 5 are well adapted to be moved along the thread spiral of the bolt l somewhat like an internal thread, as the thread of a nut; but as the prongs 5' are resilient they do not depend upon being threaded along the bolt to either be positioned or to be removed. They may be freely sprung across the thread ridges into the successive valleys therebetween. f k

Hence, in operation, the cap 4 is merely placed over the projecting end of bolt I and pressed down thereon until it is seated on the nut 3. Prongs 5 spring and click past the several thread ridges until the cap is seated, and it is then preferable to give the cap 4 a slight turn in the direction for tightening the engagement of the prongs 5 with the thread of the bolt. This not only causes the prongs to more firmly grip the thread but secures the cap 4 more rmly on its seat on the nut 3. AThe straight outstanding prong 5 will also thereby be caused to wedge itself firmly in the tapering space or thread valley rising out of the nut. locked against vibration loosening or accidental displacement. The prongs 5 are amply resilient to enable comparatively ready and easy application and removal of the cap 4 by mere longitudinal thrusts preferably'succeeded Ion application with a slight seating or tightening turn and preceded on removal with a slight' loosening turn.

. Notwithstanding this resilience, however, each prong 5 is sulciently stiil to prevent accidental displacement or loss of the cap.

It is plain that other forms of detents or detachable securing means than the prongs 5 may be provided for the cap 4 within the spirit and purpose of the present invention, some of which are shown in Figures 'I to 11l inclusive of the drawings. In each of these forms the detent or securing means is shown as detachably carried by the cap.

Referring to the embodiment seen in Figures 7 to 9 inclusive, the cap 4', which is otherwise the same as cap 4, is provided with a groove 6 in its inner wall, that is opening at its inner surface. The groove 6 may completely encircle the cap 4', as seen in Figures '7 and 8, or may be interrupted and segmental only. Seated within the groove 6 are portions of a detent or partial ring 5 which is preferably made of spring wire and bent to the peculiar form seen in the drawings. While the wire forms only a partial ring it Will, for brevity, be referred to as a ring. 'I'he same nomenclature will be adhered to in describing other forms. Ring 5' has what may be called arched end portions connected by the sides 1, 1, shaped and constructed to serve as Thus, cap 4 is frictionally thread engaging detents in lieu of the prongs i above described. If the sides 'I were curved to be continuous of the end portions of the ring, the ring would be substantially `in the form of a circle, except that it is preferably cross-cut at l both to facilitate manufacture and to facilitate the spring action required. The sides 'll are curved inward from their connections with the end portions of ring 5' suiliciently to` underhang the thread of the bolt l", and in order toenable the sides'l to effectively engage inthe thread groove, the parts I are preferably formed with a slight angle to the general plane of the ring, as seen in Figure 8. One of the sides 1 is slightly inclined in one direction and the other is slightly inclined in the other direction so that looked upon from the plane of observation corresponding to the section of Figure 8 but across` the whole of the ring the side portions 1 present a relatively thin X or crossing between them, the inclination corresponding to the pitch of the thread to be engaged. Theparts of the ring are also slightly bent to cause one of the sides l to be outward with respect to the other and relative to the length of the bolt'a distance equal to half* the distance along the bolt occupied by a complete thread helix. Accordingly, the sides l are constructed and adapted to engage and enter the valley or groove between the thread helices of the bolt l' and to there serve the purpose of the prongs 5.

'I'he operation is substantially the same as that above described with respect to the structure seen in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, except that the ring 5 is free to have limited play in the groove 6. The cap on being applied is pressed down over the bolt I to its seat on nut 3', and then is preferably given a slight seating turn. During this action, the sides 1 click past the thread.

spirals or helices, over the ridges into the valleys successively until the cap strikes the nut. Thus, in moving in and out the whole ring structure accomplishes a spring action, and the end portions nearest the cross-cut 8 are likely to have some movement toward and away from each other in the groove 6. The final slight turn causes the sides 1 to grip the engaged portions of the thread of bolt I' and effect a rm seating ot the cap sufficient to assure against accidental loosening or dislocation.

In Figure 10 is seen a further slightly modiiled embodiment in which the structure is substantially identical with that seen in Figures 'I to 9, except that the retaining ring is only located at one side instead of occupying both sides of the cap. In this embodiment, the bolt is seen at. la. and the cap at 4a provided with the groove sector 8a extending approximately for one-half of the complete circumference of the cap 4a.' 'Ihe ring 5a in this embodiment has the curved end portions 8a seated in the groove 6a. and the inwardly bent side 'la connecting said end portions and located and shaped to engage and agree in inclination with the adjacent thread valley. 'Ihe operation is exactly the same as above described with respect to the structure seen in Figures 7 to 9 inclusive, except that the detent is only at one side instead of both sides oi' the cap. This form of embodiment is not preferred, since it does not give quite as effective balancing in the location of the cap, but it is satisfactory for some inexpensive constructions and represents a slight saving in the cost of the ring.

In Figure 11 is shown a still further embodiment of the general type shown in Figure 'I in 75 Y thread grooves of the bolt Ib, and to have end portions 8b and Bc. engaging appropriate groovev sectors 6b in the cap lb. The end portions of the ring are connected by sides 1b located to engage and spring into 'and out of the thread groove of the bolt lb. The ring 5b is substantially U- shaped in form, 8b representing the arch of the U and the end 8c representing the ends of the legs of the U rounded oi to avoid gouging of the cap. One form of rounding 0K such ends is to provide short segments of a circle corresponding to the circular cross section of the cap 4b and also corresponding to the circle segment repreg senting the opposite end of the ring bb.

The operation of the structure employing 'the ring bb is largely the same as that described with respectto Figures 'I to 9 except that the ring has no possibility of circumferential creeping, and the play of the ring` in the groove sectors 6b is proportionally limited. 'I'he sides 1b, ib have the same characteristic of inclination in relatively opposite directions to correspond with the groove inclinations at the opposite sides of the bolt ib that are possessed by the sides 1.

It is noted that during operation the springing of the sides 1b over the thread ridges in moving the sides first away from and then toward each other produces somewhat of a longitudinal movement of the ends 8b and 8c, but this play is ac` commodated by the space provided by the groove sectors 6b and by the space between the cap 4b and the thread of the bolt lb, which last-mentioned space is sulcient to insure clearance and avoidance of engagement of any of the end portions with the thread during movement of the cap onto or o of the bolt.

The respective grooves 6, 6a, and Bb are of suillcient depth and the parts of the respective vrings are so proportioned that the rings haveno likelihood of being lost out of engagement with the cap during handling of the capl when it is not in place on a bolt.

Y It isapparent. of course, that the curved portions of the ring 5' at the ends of the sides 1 constitute ends of the'ring as a whole. and that these ends or'end portions alone engage in the groove 6. Likewise, the curved end portions 3a alone engage the groove 6a. With the structure seen in Figure 11, the arcuate portion 8b may be considered one end of the ring and the terminal 8c the other end of the ring. These several rings 5', 5a, and 5b are all preferably case-hardened when made of iron or steel. or otherwise tempered to insure maintenance of their resiliency and sumcient toughness to endure the stresses to which they are to be subjected. For some uses, a spring brass ring will be desirable, and,

tion as a unit. 'nie ring is .trapped in place by the groove against loss or detachment from the cap. It is, of course feasible to weld or otherwise anchor one end portion of the ring permanently to the wall of the cap, in which case the ring can terminate with its side portions and have no opposite end portion orv portions. But such welding or other permanent vanchorage is relatively expensive and is, therefore, ordinarily not preferred.

What is claimed is:

i. A bolt and nut cover comprising an im perforate dome-like body having a base adapted to seat flush against the top of the nut and a resilient member extending inward from the cover for engaging the bolt thread, said resilient member, being yieldable outward to enable the cover to be thrust bodily along the bolt end, and having its thread engaging portion disposed so nearly in the base plane .that such portion may be wedged and compressed directly and positively between the bolt thread and the top of the nut by rotation of the cover.

2. A boit and nut cover comprising an infn perforate dome-like body having a base adapted to seat ush'against the top of the nut and resilient members extending inward from the cover for engaging the bolt thread, said resilient meinbers being yieldable outward to enable the cover to `be thrust bodily along the bolt end; one of said members having its bolt-engagingrportion` disposed substantially in the base plane so that it may be wedged and compressed directly and positively between the bolt thread and the top of the nut` by rotation of the cover.

3. A,bolt and nut cover as set forth in claim i wherein the resilient member is in the form of a narrow at spring tongue integral with the cover.

4. A- bolt and nut cover as set forth in claim 2 wherein the resilient members are in the form of spring tongues integral with the cover, and are substantially at and flexible substantially throughout their lengths.

5. A bolt and nut cover as set forth in claim l wherein the resilient member is in the form of a partial spring ring trapped in the cover near the base thereof. y Y 6. A bolt and nut cover comprising an imperforate dome-like body having a base adapted to seat ush against the top of the nut and a partial resilient spring ring trapped in the body near the base thereof and having deformed vportions extending inward from the cover for engaging the bolt thread. said thread engaging portions being disposed in opposed relation and yieldable outwardly to enable the cover to be thrust bodily along the bolt end, and one of said thread engaging .portions being disposed so nearly in the base plane that such portion may be wedged and compressed directly and positively between the bolt thread and the top of the nut by rotation of the cover.

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